Localization and characterization of curved DNA in the human erythropoietin receptor gene by experimental and theoretical approaches.

We report here the locations of curved DNA in the human erythropoietin receptor gene. A total of 13 DNA bend sites were mapped by circular permutation assays, appearing at an average interval of 651.2+/-214.6 (S.D.) in the 8-kb region. The bend centers in these 13 bend sites were confirmed by oligonucleotide-based assays where most of these centers had bend angles higher than that shown by (AAACCGGGCC) x (A)20 and lower than that shown by (AAACCGGGCC)2 x (A)10. DNA curvature mapping by TRIF software, which is based on the distribution of dinucleotides, primarily AA and TT, provided a highly accurate prediction for the locations of the bend sites. They showed approximately 20 degrees to 40 degrees of bend angles demonstrated by the oligonucleotide assays and by computer analysis.     

Development of juveniles of four flatheads (Perciformes, Platycephalidae) occurring in southern Japan

The juvenile development of four Japanese flatheads (Platycephalidae),Onigocia macrolepis. O. spinosa, Inegocia japonica andRogadius asper, is described and illustrated from specimens trawled in Tosa Bay, southern Japan. Juveniles of twoOnigocia species are diagnosed by an ocular flap and absence (O. macrolepis) or presence (O. spinosa) of distinct dark bars on the body.Inegocia japonica juveniles are distinctive in having a heavily pigmented body and 12 dorsal and anal fin soft rays.Rogadius asper has a unique antrorse preopercular spine prior to 15 mm SL. During the early juvenile stage, strongly negative allometric growth occurs in the interorbital region, accompanied by migration of the eyes from the lateral to dorsal surface of the head.     

Functional Characterization of the Vitamin K2 Biosynthetic Enzyme UBIAD1

UbiA prenyltransferase domain-containing protein 1 (UBIAD1) plays a significant role in vitamin K₂ (MK-4) synthesis. We investigated the enzymological properties of UBIAD1 using microsomal fractions from Sf9 cells expressing UBIAD1 by analysing MK-4 biosynthetic activity. With regard to UBIAD1 enzyme reaction conditions, highest MK-4 synthetic activity was demonstrated under basic conditions at a pH between 8.5 and 9.0, with a DTT ≥0.1 mM. In addition, we found that geranyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl pyrophosphate were also recognized as a side-chain source and served as a substrate for prenylation. Furthermore, lipophilic statins were found to directly inhibit the enzymatic activity of UBIAD1. We analysed the aminoacid sequences homologies across the menA and UbiA families to identify conserved structural features of UBIAD1 proteins and focused on four highly conserved domains. We prepared protein mutants deficient in the four conserved domains to evaluate enzyme activity. Because no enzyme activity was detected in the mutants deficient in the UBIAD1 conserved domains, these four domains were considered to play an essential role in enzymatic activity. We also measured enzyme activities using point mutants of the highly conserved aminoacids in these domains to elucidate their respective functions. We found that the conserved domain I is a substrate recognition site that undergoes a structural change after substrate binding. The conserved domain II is a redox domain site containing a CxxC motif. The conserved domain III is a hinge region important as a catalytic site for the UBIAD1 enzyme. The conserved domain IV is a binding site for Mg²⁺/isoprenyl side-chain. In this study, we provide a molecular mapping of the enzymological properties of UBIAD1.     

Age-related disruption of autophagy in dermal fibroblasts modulates extracellular matrix components

Autophagy is an intracellular degradative system that is believed to be involved in the aging process. The contribution of autophagy to age-related changes in the human skin is unclear. In this study, we examined the relationship between autophagy and skin aging. Transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy analyses of skin tissue and cultured dermal fibroblasts derived from women of different ages revealed an increase in the number of nascent double-membrane autophagosomes with age. Western blot analysis showed that the amount of LC3-II, a form associated with autophagic vacuolar membranes, was significantly increased in aged dermal fibroblasts compared with that in young dermal fibroblasts. Aged dermal fibroblasts were minimally affected by inhibition of autophagic activity. Although lipofuscin autofluorescence was elevated in aged dermal fibroblasts, the expression of Beclin-1 and Atg5—genes essential for autophagosome formation—was similar between young and aged dermal fibroblasts, suggesting that the increase of autophagosomes in aged dermal fibroblasts was due to impaired autophagic flux rather than an increase in autophagosome formation. Treatment of young dermal fibroblasts with lysosomal protease inhibitors, which mimic the condition of aged dermal fibroblasts with reduced autophagic activity, altered the fibroblast content of type I procollagen, hyaluronan and elastin, and caused a breakdown of collagen fibrils. Collectively, these findings suggest that the autophagy pathway is impaired in aged dermal fibroblasts, which leads to deterioration of dermal integrity and skin fragility.     

A genome-wide association study for racing performances in Thoroughbreds clarifies a candidate region near the MSTN gene

Using 1400 microsatellites, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to identify genomic regions associated with lifetime earnings and performance ranks, as determined by the Japan Racing Association (JRA). The minimum heritability (h(2) ) was estimated at 7-8% based on the quantitative trait model, suggesting that the racing performance is heritable. Following GWAS with microsatellites, fine mapping led to identification of three SNPs on ECA18, namely, g.65809482T>C (P=1.05E-18), g.65868604G>T (P=6.47E-17), and g.66539967A>G (P=3.35E-14) associated with these performance measures. The haplotype of these SNPs, together with a recently published nearby SNP, g.66493737C>T (P=9.06E-16) in strong linkage disequilibrium, also showed a very clear association with the performance (P<1E-05). The candidate genomic region contained eight genes annotated by ENSEMBL, including the myostatin gene (MSTN). These findings suggest the presence of a gene affecting the racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses in this region on ECA18.     

Gene dosage effects of the structural gene for a lipoprotein of the Escherichia coli outer membrane.

The gene dosage effects of the structural gene (lpp) for the lipoprotein of the Escherichia coli outer membrane were examined. A novel F-prime factor containing the lpp gene was constructed. The amount of the free-form lipoprotein in the merodiploid strain carrying the F-prime factor was found to be about two times as great as that in the corresponding haploid strain. On the other hand, the amount of the bound-form lipoprotein, which is vovalently linked to the peptidoglycan, was not significantly different in the merodiploid strain as compared with the corresponding haploid strain. The present results suggest that the lpp gene is expressed constitutively in contrast to another major protein of the E. coli outer membrane, tolG protein (protein II, D. B. Datta et al., J. Bacteriol. 128:834-841, 1976). The F-prime factor isolated may include a portion of the E. coli chromosome (located between 33 and 36 min on the genetic map) that is not covered by any other F-prime factor.     

A tyrosinase inhibitor, Daedalin A, from mycelial culture of Daedalea dickinsii

A chromene-type compound, daedalin A (1), was isolated from mycelial culture broth of Daedalea dickinsii. Based on spectroscopic data, the structure of 1 was found to be (2R)-6-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-2H-chromene. Daedalin A (1) strongly inhibited the activity of tyrosinase (IC(50): 194 muM). In addition, 1 also showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity (IC(50): 16.9 microM) and superoxide anion scavenging activity (IC(50): 28.5 microM).     

Intermedilysin induces EGR-1 expression through calcineurin/NFAT pathway in human cholangiocellular carcinoma cells

RNF8 is a nuclear protein having an N-terminal forkhead-associated (FHA) domain and a C-terminal RING-finger (RF) domain. Depletion of RNF8 caused cell growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest at not only S but also G2/M phases. In addition, cell death was frequently observed in RNF8-depleted cells. Analyses of time-lapse microscopy revealed that the cells died in mitosis and interphase. To elucidate the RNF8 function in M phase, the Plk1 content in RNF8-depleted cells was examined. The amount of RNF8 decreased time-dependently, whereas Plk1 reciprocally increased by transfection of RNF8 siRNA. Protein contents of RNF8 and Plk1 among various cell lines were also compared. RNF8 in normal cell lines was much higher than that in many cancer cell lines. Conversely, Plk1 in normal cell lines was lower than in cancer cell lines. These results suggest that RNF8 is downregulated in many cancer cells and inversely correlated with Plk1.     

Beta-endorphin in the human gallbladder

The presence of beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity (beta-END-LI) in human gallbladder and its release were examined by means of radioimmunochemical measurements and immunohistochemical stainings. beta-END-LI was detected in the gallbladder (27.2 +/- 3.2 ng/g wet weight, mean +/- S.E.). The immunoreactivity in beta-END-LI extracted from the gallbladder was similar to that of synthetic beta-END, judging from the result of its inhibition curve parallel to that of the synthetic substance in the radioimmunoassay (RIA) system. On gel-filtration chromatography of a gallbladder extract, two components of beta-END-LI were found; one eluted on a position of beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) and another on a position of synthetic beta-END. Specific beta-END-LI positive cells were detectable in metaplastic mucous glands. When human gallbladder mucosa was perfused with a solution of 10(-8) M or 10(-6) M cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), the release of beta-END-LI from mucosa into the perfusate increased 2-3 fold. These results indicate that beta-END-LI present in human gallbladder is released by the direct action of CCK-8 on the gallbladder mucosa and suggest that it may have a physiological or pathophysiological role.